UPY  British Waters Macro - Highly Commended}

UPY  British Waters Macro - Highly Commended
'Fur coat'
Cathy Lewis

Loch Carron in the Scottish Highlands is rich with marine life and invariably a productive site for photography. Swimming out from Strome slip I noticed a juvenile sea toad perched on the edge of a kelp frond. It was busy decorating itself with Obelia (Sea fur), a zigzag hydroid that commonly grows on kelp. The crab uses the stinging hydroid as a form of defence, attaching it to Velcro-like hooks on its shell. It was nicely isolated against the background enabling me to create a clean, distraction-free image. I used various lighting angles to highlight the hydroids, keeping the kelp frond in shadow.

Judge's comment: This sea toad crab has disguised itself by attaching hydroids to its carapace. And we all know where it got them!
Alex Mustard